Method and apparatus for imaging with multiple exposure heads

An imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a media carrier;
• at least two exposure heads spaced apart from one another, each exposure head disposed to image a portion of a single sheet of media secured on the media carrier, or one of at least two sheets of media secured on the media carrier;
• an adjustable mechanism for moving the exposure heads relative to each other to change a spacing therebetween while each exposure head is imaging;
• wherein the media carrier is a cylindrical drum and the media is secured to an external surface of the drum;
• and
• wherein each exposure head is traversed by a leadscrew nut coupled to the exposure head and located on a common leadscrew and the adjustable mechanism comprises a coupling between at least one of the leadscrew nuts and the associated exposure head capable of being displaced relative to the other exposure head.

An imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a media carrier;
• at least two exposure heads spaced apart from one another, each exposure head disposed to image a portion of a single sheet of media secured on the media carrier, or one of at least two sheets of media secured on the media carrier;
• an adjustable mechanism for moving the exposure heads relative to each other to change a spacing therebetween during imaging;
• wherein the media carrier is a cylindrical drum and the media is secured to an external surface of the drum;
• and
• a speed controller connected to allow a traverse speed of at least one of the exposure heads to be controlled sufficiently precisely to adjust a position of a last channel to within less than one beam width.

An imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a media carrier;
• at least two exposure heads spaced apart from one another, each exposure head disposed to image a portion of a single sheet of media secured on the media carrier, or one of at least two sheets of media secured on the media carrier;
• an adjustable mechanism for moving the exposure heads relative to each other to change a spacing therebetween while each exposure head is moving concurrently;
• and
• wherein each exposure head is disposed to image along a scan path, and the adjustable mechanism is disposed to change the spacing along a direction substantially perpendicular to the scan path.

A method of imaging with at least two exposure heads, the method comprising:

• loading at least one sheet of media on a media carrier;
• measuring a temperature of an adjustable mechanism for moving the exposure heads relative to each other to change a spacing therebetween;
• adjusting the spacing between the exposure heads in accordance with the measured temperature;
• and
• imaging with each exposure head, a portion of a single sheet of media secured on the media carrier, or one of at least two sheets of media secured on the media carrier.